Lesley Middlemiss Lister, owner of Tyne Tees Models who sponsored the “best dressed” competition, said she had loved all the colourful outfits.

“The women have really gone to town,” she said. “My only disappointment is that I couldn’t get round everyone before the competition to ask them to take part - I could see people in the grandstands but I just couldn’t get to them in time.

“The day was fantastic, the weather stayed wonderful and there were some stunning girls - but I was quite surprised by how shy so many North East women are. Retired Pauline Hindson, from North Shields, was attending her first Ladies Day with friends Brenda Bell and Diane Dawson and said she’d spent more time people watching than taking notice of the six live races.

“It was a great experience,” she said. “The weather helped of course but I loved it.

“And the fashions were fantastic.”

Simon Lane, executive director of Newcastle racecourse said he had been delighted by the turnout.

“We sold out again - that's over 25,000 tickets,” he said. “Everyone was wearing new hats and dresses. And hopefully something like this has a positive effect for the North East.”

The day’s big race, the Pimms Beeswing Handicap, was won by 10-1 outsider Masked Dance, trained by North Yorkshire trainer Kevin Ryan.